Dry kiln



Nbv. 13, 1 3

1,473,755 R. E. ABBOTT ET AL DRY KILN Filed Jan. 24; 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I un . TTBRNEY.

Nov. 13,1923.

I R. E. ABBOTT ET AL DRY KILN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24. 1921 Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN E. ABBOTT AND HENRY EBEYSTER, O1" DETROIT, IVITCHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO FISHER BODY CORPORATION, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DRY KILN.

Application filed January 2 1, 1921. Serial No. 439,621.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that REUBEN E. ABBOTT and HENRY E. Bnrsrnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of l/Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dry kilns and is especially directed to a paint-drying kiln for automobile bodies. Kilns of this type are a high fire risk for the reason that they are heated to a relatively high heat, very often up to. 180 degrees, and the paint, of course, is highly inflammable; hence the insurance rates are very high on buildings containing automobile paintdrying kilns.

It is the object of the present invention to very materially lessen the hazard at a relatively small expense.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a sectional perspective showing the dry kiln.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section, fragmentary in character.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the same opened up by fire or extremely high temperature.

Fig. L is a fragmentary plan View.

The kilns now in use in automobile body plants are relatively low enclosures that are contained in rooms of relatively higher ceilings. These kilns are usually of relatively large dimensions so that they will accommodate agood many automobile bodies that are rolled into the kilns on trucks. Air is blown into the kiln by a blower a over the steam pipes contained in a chamber 6.

All well equipped plants in this day con tain automatic sprinkler systems for extinguishing fires. Of course, the fire hazard in the kilns themselves would. be greatly reduced by introducing a sprinkler system directly into the kiln. However, this would be very expensive in large plants where the installations are large and numerous. It is the object of the present invention to so construct the kiln that the sprinkler system of the plant may be utilized to protect the kiln when fire starts in the kiln.

0 represents the ordinary sprinkler system contained near the ceiling of the room. 05 is a joist which supports the canvas that forms the side wall e. f is a cross member between the two joists (Z for supporting the center bar it. 2', 2' represent uprights supporting the joists and helping to form the side walls. The wire 7' runs from the center bar it to each joist. These wires j form guides for the sliding roof canvas 7: which is guided on these wires by the eyes Z that fas ten to the canvas. The roof curtain has a stiffening bar m adjacent the center bar it to which the end of the curtain is attached. A cord is is fastened to this stiffening bar and runs over the sheave 0 and down to the pulley weight 7). g, 9 represent studs at tached to the stiffening bars m. These are tied together by a fusible wire link 1'.

The operation is simple: In case fire occurs in the kiln, the link 1" fuses, the pulley weights p pull the roof curtains back, and the whole kiln is exposed, permitting the heat in the kiln to start the automatic sprinkler system in the customary way.

What we claim is:

1. In a kiln, the combination of a side wall enclosure, a roof, means for auto matically removing the roof from over the body of the kiln when the heat in the kiln reaches a predetermined degree and an automatic sprinkler system supported above the side wall enclosure.

2. In a kiln, the combination of a side wall enclosure, a roof closing the kiln consisting of one or more curtains, and means for automatically opening the kiln by withdrawing the curtain or curtains when the heat in the kiln reaches a predetermined degree.

3. In a kiln, the combination of a side wall enclosure and a roof therefor in the form of one or more curtains, means tending to withdraw said curtains from over the body of the kiln, and a fusible material restraining the curtains in their position of closing the kiln, said fusible material adapted to permit the curtain or curtains to be withdrawn when a predetermined heat is reached.

1-. In a kiln, the combination of a side wall enclosure, one or more foldable curtains for forming the roof of the enclosure, weights tending to withdraw said curtain or curtains from over thebody of the kiln, and one or more fusible links for holding the curtain or curtains against the efforts of the weights.

5. In a kiln, the combination of a side wall enclosure, Wire guides running over the top of the enclosure, flexible curtains provided with guiding eyes running on said Wire guides, means tending to Withdraw the said curtains, and fusible members restraining the Withdrawal of the curtains but adapted to permit the curtains to be Withdrawn When the temperature in the kiln reaches a predetermined point.

6. In a kiln, the combination of a side Wall enclosure, a center bar, guides running from the center bar to the side walls, flexible cur tains stretched from the side walls to the center bar and guided on the said guides, means tending to Withdraw the curtains from the center bar, and fusible members holding the curtains t0 the centerbar until the heat in the kiln reaches a predetermined point.

In testimony whereof we a'iiix our signa- 20 tures.

' HENRY E. BEYSTER. REUBEN E. ABBOTT. 

